Portrait of Trevor Paglen. Photo: Axel Dupeux

Exhibitions

Trevor Paglen in Venice

Voyager by Trevor Paglen — Trevor Paglen, *Voyager*, 2026 © Trevor Paglen

Strange Rules

May 4 – Nov 22, 2026
Palazzo Diedo – Berggruen Arts & Culture
Venice, Italy

Trevor Paglen will debut new multimedia work—including Voyager (2026), which incorporates hypnotic audio scripts, biofeedback software, pulse sensors, an isolation booth, and headphones—in Strange Rules at Palazzo Diedo, opening May 4 in conjunction with the 61st International Venice Biennale.

Strange Rules introduces the concept of Protocol Art, a practice that engages with the underlying rules that dictate how culture is produced, distributed, and perceived in a digital age. These rules frequently manifest as algorithms, artificial intelligence models, computer protocols, platforms, and various technological infrastructures.

Strange Rules is curated by Mat Dryhurst, Holly Herndon, and Hans Ulrich Obrist, with Adriana Rispoli.

(opens in a new window) Learn more at berggruenarts.org.

A Necessary Fiction

Maps, Art, and Models of Our World

May 6 – Nov 22, 2026
Abbazia di San Gregorio – Saudi Ministry of Culture
Venice, Italy

Work by Trevor Paglen will be included in A Necessary Fiction: Maps, Art, and Models of Our World, a new exhibition at the Abbazia di San Gregorio in Venice on view from May 6 to November 22. The exhibition is curated by an international team, led by Sara Almutlaq and Aurora Fonda with associate curators Zaira Carrer and Amina Diab.

A Necessary Fiction is a journey through territories in constant flux, where historical maps—dating from the thirteenth century to the present—serve as a lens through which to examine our enduring need to create models of the world. These models offer fantastic mythological visions and imaginative interpretations of scientific inquiry throughout the ages to the present day. The curators, working in close collaboration with exhibition designers Ibrahim Kombarji and Bianca Pedron, create a dynamic perspective on cartography over time and across a wide geographical span.

(opens in a new window) Learn more at e-flux.com.